McClaren won't succeed Capello

24 October 2010 11:01

Sir Trevor Brooking has ruled out the possibility of Steve McClaren returning as England manager to succeed Fabio Capello in two years' time.

The Italian is to step down after the European Championship finals in 2012, with the Football Association keen to appoint an English successor.

Brooking told the Independent on Sunday: "Steve had a really difficult time and in years to come might be looked on as the ideal age to do the job again but 2012 would be too early for him to come back. He himself wants to get more experience."

McClaren's spell with the national team ended with failure to qualify for Euro 2008 courtesy of Croatia's win at a rain-soaked Wembley which saw him labelled "the wally with the brolly".

FA director of football development Brooking recently suggested that he could one day return to the role after rebuilding his reputation by guiding FC Twente to their first Dutch Eredivisie title before departing for Wolfsburg.

Brooking said: "Ideally we would still want an English coach, but it's all about availability. There is an argument that says if we can't appoint an English coach for our national team, why would big clubs appoint English coaches?

"Longer-term, we'd like to take the lead and appoint English coaches - not just once but on a regular basis."

One high-profile vacancy in the FA already exists, of course, following Lord Triesman's resignation as the organisation's chairman in May.

Roger Burden is currently serving as acting chairman as England bid for the rights to host the 2018 World Cup, and Brooking revealed no permanent replacement will be appointed until that process is complete.

"Nothing will happen until the New Year, once we know whether we have won the bid," he said.